Abuse at Hill End Hospital Adolescent Unit in St Albans

Following on from our blog in February 2025, in which we reported that a scheme is now in place to compensate former patients for the abuse they suffered at Hill End Hospital Adolescent Unit in St Albans (‘Hill End’), many survivors of abuse at Hill End have now come forward to submit their claims for compensation.

Hill End was in operation from 1969 until 1995, and was intended to treat teenagers under the age of 16 with psychiatric illnesses and mental health issues, most of whom were vulnerable and under care orders.

Dr Peter Bruggen (now deceased), a Consultant Adolescent Psychiatrist who was the manager at Hill End, was known for using ‘unconventional’ methods for treating the patients, with the Hill End hospital records demonstrating that high doses of antipsychotic drugs were routinely given to patients.

The records confirm that patients were sedated at Hill End as a method of punishment and control, and were administered to help alleviate staff anxiety, as opposed to providing therapeutic help to patients.

A common theme that many survivors report was being directed by the staff to drink sedatives, and if they refused, the staff would forcibly inject them with the sedatives.

Many survivors also report waking up from sedation, often with their clothes removed, to then be further sedated by the staff.

In addition to the high levels of sedatives used at Hill End, many former patients also report being subjected to physical and sexual abuse by the staff, including unlawful strip searches, sexual assaults and rapes.

Those former patients who suffered unlawful sedations and/or physical and/or sexual abuse, can submit a claim under the scheme for damages and their legal costs.

Any former patients at Hill End who were subjected to sedations and abuse, are being urged to come forward to submit their claims.

Jordans Solicitors now act for former patients at Hill End in relation to their experiences at the Unit, and our team of experienced lawyers will seek to obtain the maximum amount of compensation for the survivors of abuse at Hill End.